Sausage machine



Dec. 27, 1949 P. A. .lAcoBsoN SUSAGE MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1946 R NN 5 Sheets-.Sheet 2 Dec. 27, 1949 P. A-. JAcoBsoN SAUSAGE MACHINE Filed June--i{7, 194e D99 27, 1949 P. A. JACOBSQN 2,492,222

SAUSAGE MACHINE Dec. 27, 1949 P. A. JAcoBsoN 2,492,222

sAUsAGE MACHINE Filed June 17, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 P. A. -JAcoBsoN sAsAGE MASHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 17, 194B Patented Dec. 27, 1949 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE SAUSAGE MACHINE Parker A. Jacobson, Evanstomlll. Applicatinjune 17, 1946, serial No. 677,138

Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements' in" sausage machines and more particularly to such a machinev for feeding and twisting a stuffed sausage casing-during the process of forming the same intolinks.

An objectof this inyention is to 'provide a simi ple and highlyjefcient 4machine for feeding a stuffedl sausagecasing to a conveying and pinch-` ing machin that successivelyfforms said casing' into links, and for twisting lsaid casing, at lthe outer end of the last formed link therein, by turning the unlinked` section of said casing aboutits longitudinal axis while the linked section thereof is held'from turning by said conveying and twisting machine.l y

A further object of n novel means, coordinated with the feeding and twisting machine for turningfof the unlinked sec-L tion of lthe'stuiTe'd sausage casing synchronous with the turning thereof by said 'feeding and twisting machine. y

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following)description reference being hadY to the drawings'.

To the above end, generallyA` tated,A the inven-v tion consistsof the novel devices and combination of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims;

this,E invention is to provide,

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the vseveral views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view partly in side ele-VY vation and partlyin: central Vertical section taken on the line'l-I ofFig.2;4 l

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown 'in Fig. 1, but somewhat more fragmentary;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views partly Vin end elevation and partly in section taken' on the lines V3 3 and 4 4 of Fig. 1, respectively;

Fig. 5 is `a detail viewpartly in elevation and partly in section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig.

1 on an enlarged scale; Fig. 6 is a, view partly in end 1, and

ing mechanism.

l v l 'elevation and partly in section taken on` the line 6 6 of Fig.

My present invention must necessarilybe used v inI'cOnnectiOn with a mar'shinev for conveying a stuffed sausage casing longitudinall'yand at the same time form the same into links by successively pinching the same, at longitudinally spaced points, to displace'the stufngtherein by 4forcing the same in opposite directions in the casing and gathering the casing into While 'the gathered portion of the casing is being held pinched thev gathered portion thereof must be tightly twisted so the respective link willv keep its'form and not untwist when the pinching force is removed.A

1t is to this feeding .and twisting of, a. stuffed sausage casing that my present invention appertains.

For the sake of brevity, theconveying and pinching'machine will hereinafter. be .referred to,n

A, and thefeeding and twisting as` machine be referred to as machine ,B..

machine will It is thought that the presentY invention will'be A IIJ, for sliding movement toward andfrom each ,v other. The jaw 8 of each unit 1 includes two duplicate, laterally spaced members and the jaw 9 thereof extends therebetween.

A pair of reversely acting coiled springs II are Each spring II is anchored at one of its ends to a bracket I2 on the channel member I0 and atl under strain to close the jaws 8 and 9.

tached at vits other end. to Vthe outer end of one of the jaws 8 and 9, as indicated at I3.

The opening and closing of the yieldingly held jaws 8 and 9 is controlled by a pair of laterally spaced, cam-acting flat rails I4 and rollers vI5 that travel on the outersides of said rails. These rollers I5 are journalled on upstanding trunnions I6 on the outer end portions of the jaws 8 and 9. y

Obviously, the opposing springsv IIv are under strain'to close thejaws 8 and 9 and thereby yieldingly hold the rollers I5 against the rails I4.

faces which, when said jaws are Closed, pincha stuffed sausage casingX extending longitudinally..therebetween as indicated bybroken lines in Fig. 1, squeeze `the stufling therein and force the same in opposite directions in the casing X to sep- The units 'I are moved in an endless course by` a pair of laterally spaced conveyor chains I8 .that

run' over inner, intermediate and outer. pairs of sprocket wheels I9 and 20 and 2|..k The sprocket wheels I9 are on a driven shaft 22 and thesprocket wheels 20 and 2l are on idle shafts 23 a compact mass. at the longitudinal axis of the respective link.

The jaws 8 and Shave opposing V-shaped sur- 3 and 24 respectively. The shafts 22, 23 and 24 are journalled in bearings on three separate frames 25 spaced longitudinally of machine A. These frames 25 are rigidly connected by a pair of laterally spaced base rods 26 that extend through sleeve bearings 21 on said frames.

The sleeve bearings 21 on the inner and outer frames 25 have outstanding lugs 28 with which leveling screws 29 have threaded engagement. These screws 29 act as supports for machine A. Brackets 36 attach the rails |4 to the frames 25.

The channel members I extend transversely over and outwardly of the two conveyor chains I8 and are attached thereto. The units 1 are spaced the one in advance of the other and the distance therebetween determines the length of the links into which the casing X is divided.

The shaft 22 is driven from an electric motor on machine B, as will hereinafter appear, by connections, certain of which are on machine A and are as follows, to wit: A sprocket chain 3| runs over a large sprocket wheel 32 on the shaft 22, and a small sprocket wheel 33 on one end of a short shaft 34 intermediately journalled on a bearing 34 on the inner frame 25. On the other end of the shaft 34 is a large bevel gear 35 that meshes with a pinion 36 on a short shaft 31, intermediately journalled in a bearing on the inner frame 25. A collar 38 on the opposite end of the shaft 31 from the pinion 36, together with said pinion hold the shaft 31 against endwise movement in its bearing. The shaft 31, outwardly of the collar 38, is coupled to the balance of the driving connections from the motor to the shaft 22 which are on machine A, as will presently apear.

p Referring now in detail to my present invention, to wit: Machine A. coordinated with machine B, just described.

The numeral 39 indicates a horizontally disposed skeleton base having four sleeve bearings 49 in rectangular arrangement. This base 39 has at its center a large upstanding hub 4|. A pair of base rods 42 is mounted in the sleeve bearings 49 and rigidly secured thereto. These base rods 42 are axially aligned with the base rods 26 of machine A and coupled thereto, as will presently appear.

Between the base 39 and machine A 1s an outer frame 43 and an inner frame 44. These two frames 43 and 44 have on their bottom portions sleeve bearings 45 and 46 respectively through which the base rods 42 extend. The adjacent end portions of the base rods 26 and 42 extend into the bearing sleeves 46 from opposite ends thereof. Set-screws 41 have threaded engagement with the bearing sleeves 40, 45, and 46. Certain of these set-screws 41 impinge the base rods 42 and rigidly connect the base 39 and the frames 43 and 44 thereto. The other set-screws 41 impinge the base rods 26 which extend into the bearing sleeves 46 from the opposite ends thereof from the base rod 42. Obviously the two machines A and B are separably connected at the bearing sleeves 46.

Machine B is supported by pairs of levelling screws 48. One pair of these screws 48 have threaded engagement with outstanding lugs 49 on the outermost pair of sleeve bearing 40 and the other pair thereof have threaded engagement with outstanding lugs 58 in the sleeve bearings 46.

An electric motor is mounted on a bed 52 comprising a pair of cross-tie bars secured to the base rods 42. On the armature shaft of the motor 5I is a spur pinion 53 that meshes with a spur gear 54 journalled on a stub shaft 55 on the frame 44. The gear 54 meshes with a gear 56 on the outer end portion of a short shaft 51 intermediately journalled on a bearing 58 on the frame 44. On the inner end of the shaft 51 is a hub 59 into which the outer end portion of the shaft 31 projects, and is detachably secured thereto by a nut-equipped bolt 66. This completes the driving connection from the motor 5|, on machine B, to the conveyor chains I8 for the units 1, on machine AJ A tub-like receptacle 6| is provided for holding an unlinked stuffed sausage casing X to be drawn therefrom and fed to machine A, to be formed thereby into links. This receptacle 6| is removably mounted on a turntable 62 having an upstanding flange 63 within which said receptacle is snugly tted and frictionally held thereby for rotation with said turntable. On the underside of the turntable 62 is a depending central trunnion 64 journalled in the hub 59. Anti-friction ball bearings 65 are mounted in ball races 66 in a boss 61 on the under side of the turntable 62 and the upper end of the hub 4| and support said turntable on the base 39.

The turntable 62, hence the receptacle 6|, is rotated by the following connections, to wit: The gear 54, driven from the motor 5|, meshes with a spur pinion 6B on the inner end of a countershaft 69 journalled in a bearing 10 on the frame 44, and a bearing 1| on the base 39. On the outer end of the shaft 69 is a bevel pinion 12 that meshes with a ring gear 13 on the under side of the turntable 62 concentric with the trunr nion 64.

The hereinafter described mechanism is provided for withdrawing the stuffed sausage casing X, to be formed into links, from the receptacle 6| for feeding the same to machine A and for turning the casing X about its longitudinal axis to twist the same at the outer end of the last formed link therein, While said link is being held from turning by the jaws 8 and 9 of one of the units 1, to wit: A box-like frame or housing 14, having an open bottom, is provided at its end with a pair of large tubular trunnions 15 and 16, journalled in bearings 11 and 18 on the upper ends of the frames 43 and 44, respectively. These trunnions 15 and 16 are axially aligned with the opening formed by a pair of the jaws 8 and 9 when pinching the sausage casing X to form a link therein.

It has been assumed that the housing 14 is positioned, as shown, particularly in Figs. l and 5, when reference was made to its open bottom and it will be understood that said housing is in this same position when further reference is made thereto or to parts carried thereby.

Within the housing 14 is a pair of upright, laterally spaced combined gripping and feeding rollers 19 having concave peripheries. These rolls 19 are made of relatively soft rubber so as to not break the sausage casing X,.but at the same time afford good gripping surfaces. Each roll 19 has an axial metal bushing B0 provided on its lower end with an outturned flange 8| and on its upper end a loose washer 82.

The rolls 19 are mounted on a pair of'depending parallel shafts 83 journalled above said rolls in bearings 84 on the top of the housing 14. To hold the rolls 19 for` rotation with the shafts 83 their bushings 89 are endwise clamped between Xed collars on the shafts 83 and knurled thumb-nuts 86 on the screw threaded lower end portions of the shafts 83. The collars 85 have a working clearance with the bearings 84, see Fig. 5.

The opposing .faces of the rolls 1.9, inthe plane of 4their axes, are on the :arcs fof a lcircle hav-ing its'center at the-aligned .projected ,raxes vrof 'the tubular trunnions 15 and 16. The diameter -of this vcircle is 'such that the .rolls 19 grip the stuffed sausage casing X, of .a given diameter., with sufncient pressure to feed the same longitudinally and at the same time :turn the casing X vabout its axis, as will presently appear.

.Bushings 81 are removably -mounted in the tubular .trunnions 15 and -1-6 and have non their outer ends outturn'ed annular ianges 88 that ,engage the respective ends lof lsaid trunnions :and limit the endwise movement 'of `-said bushings into the trunnions VI5-and 16. Set-screws 89, having threaded engagement with the trunnions 15 and 18, impinge fthe bushings -81 and hold the same in place. n y"'In YKactual usage of the machine 9B, inter-- changeable roll 19 and bushings 81 will be provided for stuffed saus-age rcasings of different diameters.

The housing lll is rotated about the axes of the trunnions 15 and 14B by the following connections, to wit: A sprocket chain 90 runs Lover a sprocket Wheel 91 secured t0 the Spur gear 156 and a Sprocket Wheel 92 in the :bruna-ien "if The rolls 19 are rotated in opposite directions and at the same speed by a pair of meshing spur gears 93 on the shafts 83 above the housing 14. One of these gears 93 is driven by the following connections, to wit: A sprocket chain 94 runs over a sprocket wheel 95 secured to the gear 54 and a smaller gear 96 on the inner end portion of a shaft 91 journalled in a bearing 98 on the frame 44 and a bearing 99 on the frame 43. A V-belt runs over a step pulley |0| on the outer end the shaft 91 and a step pulley |02 on the outer end portion of a short shaft |03 intermediately journalled in a bearing |04 on the frame 43. A spur gear |05 on the inner end of the shaft |03 meshes with a spur gear |06 journalled in the tubular trunnion 15. Also journalled on the trunnion and secured to the gear |06 for rotation therewith is a spur gear |01. This gear |01 meshes with a spur pinion |01 mounted on the outer end portion of a short shaft |08 intermediately journalled in a bearing |09 on the top of the housing 14. On the inner end portion of the shaft |08 is a bevel pinion ||0 that meshes with a bevel gear I|| on one of the shafts 83.

On top of the housing 14 is an upstanding endless guard ange ||2 within which the gears 93 operate.

A belt tightener I3 for the V-belt |00 is mounted on the frame 43.

It may be stated that the rolls 19 feed the casing X to the units 1 at the same speed at which said casing X is conveyed by the units 1. The unlinked portion of the casing X in the receptacle 6| is turned bodily at the same speed at which it is turned by the rolls 19 so that there is no twist in said casing X between the receptacle 6| and the rolls 19 and hence remains straight.

Operation A stuffed sausage casing X is to be formed into links, is coiled in the receptacle 6I about the axis thereof. One end of the casing X is then inserted through the outermost bushing 81 and placed between the rolls 19. While the casing X is thus held the rolls 19 are rotated to feed the casing therebetween and through the innermost bushing 81 by pulling on the V-belt |00.

The end portion of the casing projecting outwar-diy ofthe innermost bus-hing 81 is knext-held in a position to be pinched by Lthe jazws vIl and v9 of the upwardly andoutwardly moving unit 1. After the casing X has been pinched and held by the vjaws f8' and 29 .fof ione of the Yuni-ts :1., the motor 5| is started and lfrom Vthis time on the forming of the :links in the casing X and the twisting thereof isfentirely automatic.

4shown in the drawings, see Fig. 7, the frame 1.4 ris .rotated auth-clockwise to turn the casing X extending through `the bushings 81 and being fed longitudinally by the rolls 1-9 `to the link forming jaws 8 'and `9 which hold the link Aportion 'of the casing X from turning. AThis 'rotation of the irame 14 .twists the casing X at the last formed link. lTo counteract this twisting of the respec-v tive portion of the casing X, the receptacle 6l is rotated clockwise to 'turn the unlinked portion of the :casing asitxlje'aves said receptacle at the same speed at which sections of the casing X in the bushings 81 is being turned.

vItw,ill ,be understood that the invention ,-described :is capable of modifications within the scope; of the invention hereinafter disclosed and claimed. 1

WhatIecl'aim-.ist

1. The combination with a, machine having means for conveying a stuffed sausage casing and for forming the same into links, of a support, a frame having a pair of axially aligned tubular trunnions journalled on the support through which trunnions the unlinked section of the sausage casing is conveyed to said machine, a pair of cooperating rolls journalled on the frame for holding said casing to turn with the trunnions, and means for rotating the frame to turn the unlinked section of said casing and thereby twist the same at the outer end of the last formed link in said casing.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 further including means for rotating the rolls to feed the unlinked section of the casing to said machine.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 further including means for turning the unlinked section of the casing outwardly of the frame to counteract the twisting of said casing. e

4. The combination with a machine having means for conveying a stuied sausage casing and for forming the same into links, of a support, a frame having a pair of axially aligned tubular trunnions journaled on the support through which trunnions the unlinked section of the stuffed sausage casing is conveyed to said machine, a. pair of shafts journalled on the frame, rolls removably journalled on the shafts for holding said section of the casing to turn with the trunnions and means for rotating the frame to turn said section of the casing and thereby twist the same at the outer end of the last formed link in said casing.

5. The structure defined in claim 4 further including means for rotating the shafts to rotate the rolls to feed the unlinked section of the casing to the machine.

6. The combination with a machine having means for conveying a stuffed sausage casing and for forming the same into links, of a second machine having means for turning the unlinked section of said casing to twist the same at the outer end of the last formed link therein, separable couplings connecting the two machines, a motor on one of said machines, and driving connections from the motor to said two machines including a separable coupling between the two machines.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 further including means on the second machine for turning the unlinked section of the casing to counter act the twisting thereof, and driving connections from the motor to said turning means.

8. A machine of the class described having means for conveying a stuffed sausage casing and for forming the same into links and holding the respective portions of the casing from turning, means for turning the unlinked portion of the casing at the last formed link to twist the same, and a second means for turning the unlinked sections of the casing before it is acted upon by the first noted turning means in the opposite direction from which it is being turned to twist the same and at the same speed.

9. A machine of the class described having means for conveying a stuffed sausage casing, and for forming the same into links, and holding the respective portions of the casing from turning, means for turning the unlinked portion of the casing at the last formed link to turn the same, and a receptacle for holding the unlinked section of the casing therein, means for rotating the receptacle to turn the unlinked section of the casing as it leaves the receptacle in the opposite direction in which the first noted turning means is twisting the casing and at the same speed.

10. A machine of the class described having means for conveying a stuffed sausage casing, and for forming the same into links, and holding the respective portions of the casing from turning, means for turning the unlinked portion of the casing at the last formed link totwist the same, a turntable, a receptacle removably mounted on the turntable for rotation therewith for holding the unlinked section of the casing thereon, and 'means for rotating the turntable to turn the unlinked section of the casing as it leaves the receptacle in the opposite direction in which the :first noted turning means is twisting the same and at the same speed.

PARKER A. JACOBSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 873,877 Londen Dec. 17, 1907 1,366,183 Hottmann Jan. 18, 1921 1,545,586 Y Kruse July 14, 1925 1,639,270 Potter Aug. 16, 1927 2,102,917 'Rolland Dec. 21, 1937 

